Harare — SOUTH African President Thabo Mbeki last week confronted President Robert Mugabe on post-election violence after a probe team he sent to Zimbabwe uncovered shocking evidence of largely state-sponsored brutality against opposition supporters in rural areas.
Sources told the Zimbabwe Independent that Mbeki raised "great concern" about the violence when he met Mugabe in Harare last Friday afternoon soon after receiving a brief on political violence from the investigators.
Mbeki was appointed by Sadc last year to facilitate dialogue between Zanu PF and the opposition MDC. The sources said the head of the probe team made up of ex-army generals, Lieutenant-General Gilbert Lebeko Ramano, met Mbeki for several hours and told him they had uncovered evidence of brutal violence against the opposition.
Ramano, the source added, told Mbeki that in a few cases members of the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC were also involved in counter-violence.
The generals during their investigations met government, Zanu PF and opposition officials, civil society and other stakeholders. They also saw victims of the political violence, some of them with lacerations, scars and broken limbs.
The team reportedly declined to entertain police chief Augustine Chihuri's attempt to give them a colonial context of the situation obtaining in the country. Chihuri, the sources added, was reminded by the generals that their mandate in Zimbabwe was to probe current political violence.
Mbeki, the sources said, was shown some of the evidence of the violence and was reportedly shaken.
"After the briefing with the generals at the South African ambassador's residence, Mbeki met Mugabe at State House for three hours and raised concern about the violence," one of the sources said. "Mbeki reportedly told Mugabe that a run-off in an atmosphere of violence would produce a disputed result.
Mugabe, the sources said, agreed with Mbeki that the violence should be brought to an end, but tried to convince the South African leader that MDC youths were provoking his party members.
Since the Mugabe/Mbeki meeting, the Zimbabwe government and Zanu PF have been issuing statements deploring violence.
Police in Masvingo this week said they had dismantled political bases in the province that were being used to unleash violence, while Zanu PF in Mashonaland Central launched an anti-violence campaign.
On Wednesday Zanu PF's politburo met in the capital and also condemned violence. The source said Mbeki was convinced that a run-off could not take place in the tense climate.
Last week, his special envoy on Zimbabwe, Kingsley Mamabolo, also said the environment in Zimbabwe was not conducive for the run-off now expected about or after July 31.
On Wednesday Sadc - which is expected to monitor the run-off - said the political environment was not yet suited for a free and fair second-round poll.
"We can't say the playing ground is safe or will be fair, but we are there to create a conducive environment for everybody to be confident," Sadc executive secretary Tomaz Salomao said.
Sadc is expected to hold an extraordinary meeting on Zimbabwe soon.
Political violence intensified in Zimbabwe after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) confirmed on May 2 that Mugabe and Zanu PF had lost to the MDC and Tsvangirai in the March 29 poll.
The sources said Mugabe told Mbeki during their meeting that the run-off would be delayed because ZEC needed funds to replenish election materials, among other logistics.
Mugabe reportedly told the South African leader that ZEC wanted to delay the run-off by at least six months.
"Mbeki pledged to mobilise funds for the run-off," another source said.
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This is a worying factor, what a beutifull country and it has so' much potential for tourism and growth but unfortunately the leaders are messing it up for everyone and causing people to flee to the outside world. Its a real shame!!!
Oh! Suddenly Mr President,Mbeki now has developed some eyes. I dont quite believe this. And having been able to see,it appears there is still no sign that he is can see the right scenario of what is happening.And at he is seeing the right thing,what evidence is on the ground to suggest that his reactions are of benefit to the sufferings of people in Guruve,Mkumbura,Kapfudza,Mtoko or Masvingo? Still there is no cisis? Still Zimbabweans have the capacity to solve their own problems? Mr President,the people who are suffering in this ordeal are evidently unable to solve the problems,and those with the capacity to solve the problems are pre-occupied with selfish agendas. They have those "EYES" which you had when you visited Zimbabwe ,on your way to Zambia for SADC meeting that never was.
It is therefore hoped that your mediation role can now metamorphose into phase which can facilitate the process of bringing a ray of hope to the Zimbabweans. While it appears so evident that people who are suffering most are in rural areas,the reason is that the perpetrators of this violence in rural areas are using methods which are observable.Otherwise everybody in Zimbabwe are feeling the brute,even those who are perpetrating for it is a vicious cycle.Those in urban areas,which seemingly appear quiet,are facing and experiencing it similarly,only that they are quick to adapt and they also adopt new livelihood strategies.
Mr Presidentits time to walk the talk
Amen!!!!!!! Not sure why Mbeki has had a change of mind but still as long as the talking continues it is still not helping the people of Zimbabwe so let them see real action and not petty little promises which are meaningless. Mugabe does not understand mere words so show him some strong action!
Mbeki is only pretending to act concerned now because he can't dispute the evidence. He shouldn't be involved in mediation, he's completely useless.
From gentle diplomacy to confrontation? Police dismantling political camps? What is a political camp? ZANU PF launched an anti-violence campaign?
I wonder if it's Mbeki or Mugabe attempting to save face? Maybe they are attempting to save eachothers face.
Maybe they think enough people have fled to secure the run off and they are now being conciliatory.
I think Mbeki is pretty much complicit in everything that has happened since he became the SADC representative to Zimbabwe.
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